When can an American citizen be accused of treason?

Question

What are the circumstances, etc...?

Answer 1

Article 3 defines treason as levying war against the US, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid or comfort.

In the US treason is punishable by death.

The same article of the states that "no person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."


***Note a post in this forum containing no overt or implicit attack against any specific political alignment. Not noted to toot my own horn only to show that as hard as it is to believe it can be done***

Answer 2

In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to one's nation. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor. Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour.

Traitor may also mean a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are controversial and disputed, as the person may not identify with the group of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group leaders making the charge. See, for example, race traitor.

At times, the term "traitor" has been levelled as a political epithet, regardless of any verifiable treasonous action. In a civil war or insurrection, the winners may deem the losers to be traitors. Likewise the term "traitor" is used in heated political discussion – typically as a slur against political dissidents, or against officials in power who are perceived as failing to act in the best interest of their constituents. In certain cases, as with the German Dolchstoßlegende, the accusation of treason towards a large group of people can be a unifying political message.

In these trying times disagreeing with the religious right or not supporting the wealthy elite will guarantee you will be accused of treason... but not to worry.... it's a badge of honor!

Answer 3

Well actually liberals do believe in treason. Selling weapons to Iran after they killed 242 of our Marines in Lebanon is Treason.

Giving an operatives CIA name to the press is treason. Selling spare parts to Iran for F-14 Tomcats, like we are currently doing is treason!

Answer 4

when you help another country with planning a attack on our country or if you intentionally leak information out that agencies such as the FBI or the CIA held as top secret

Answer 5

there are no circumstances. liberals dont believe treason can actually occur. there is nothing you can do to your government that isn't protected under the constitution, liberals believe. look at hanoi jane. she encouraged troops to give up to the vietnamese and be tortured. she also aimed an anti-aircraft gun at our soldiers, yet is loved by all democrats. she is one of the major faces of the democrat party. so the law doesn't exist anymore

Answer 6

Adam Gadahn is a good example. Planning attacks against our country. I hope they find him and hang him.